Playing devil's advocate, but I think it is interesting how much blame is place on the fans. This may not apply to the younger skaters, but the older ones who are posting certain things on social media are looking for some sort of reaction. Social media is just as much about the poster as it is the consumer. When a skate posts an image of themselves, you can assume it has been chosen for a particular reason and it is meant to illicit a certain reaction. I don't think it is the fault of fans if their reaction doesn't line up with what the poster wanted. Now that is not to say I condone people leaving unpleasant comments, but something was posted on a platform that is open to comments.
The reality is, the bodies of elite athletes are not "normal" by medical or societal standards. They also aren't always healthy. That is precisely why people both fawn over and are critical of them. It is important to acknowledge that. Many elite sports, including figure skating, promote habits that are not good for the body, physically and mentally. We can't ignore that disordered eating and body image is prevalent in the sport. Yes, some people are naturally smaller framed or have larger frames, but those are the outliers, not the norm. Those discussions need to be had, but they should in no way be had around the bodies of individual skaters. It needs to be more holistic than that. Everyone plays a role in this. The fans, coaches, federations, and the skaters themselves.
The reality is, the bodies of elite athletes are not "normal" by medical or societal standards. They also aren't always healthy. That is precisely why people both fawn over and are critical of them. It is important to acknowledge that. Many elite sports, including figure skating, promote habits that are not good for the body, physically and mentally. We can't ignore that disordered eating and body image is prevalent in the sport. Yes, some people are naturally smaller framed or have larger frames, but those are the outliers, not the norm. Those discussions need to be had, but they should in no way be had around the bodies of individual skaters. It needs to be more holistic than that. Everyone plays a role in this. The fans, coaches, federations, and the skaters themselves.